Last year's Big Ten Preview was a discussion about parity in the league, although it would have been better to describe it as mediocrity.  While two Big Ten teams played in BCS bowls again last year, the resulting black eye was the same.  Ohio State was defeated in another National Championship game and another Big Ten team was soundly defeated by USC in the Rose Bowl.  Furls says that 2008 is a "Put Up or Shut Up" year for the Big Ten.  And he previews the conference for us in his latest.

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Last year, most Buckeye fans assumed that Coach Tressel and linebackers coach Luke Fickell would be breaking in a whole new set of starting linebackers in 2008. Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis looked like a surefire first round draft pick after picking up the Butkus Award as the nations best linebacker.  Marcus Freeman had finished the season strong, and many observers felt his young family would give him cause to turn pro as well. Much to the delight of Buckeye Nation though, they're both back.  And the Bucks should have one of the best linebacking corps in the country.

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The Buckeyes had the best defense in the Big Ten last year, and one of the best in the country statistically, and they accomplished that with a relatively inexperienced defensive line. The team was dealt a real blow in the first game when one of the projected starters, at defensive end, Lawrence Wilson, was lost for the season with a broken leg ... but then got a huge breakout season from Vernon Gholston.  Dan Wismar previews the Buckeyes 2008 defensive line in his latest.

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In Coach Tressel's OSU offense, the gaudy statistics are usually sported by the running backs and quarterbacks and wide receivers. So if you're looking for big numbers, that's where you'll have to go. The fullbacks and tight ends in the OSU system are blockers first and ball-handlers second...if at all.  Buckeye Dan Wismar continues his look at the 2008 Buckeyes with his preview of the teams fullbacks and tight ends.

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